Story perspectives

Hilton’s Pride ad sparks backlash and widens 18-point gap

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 3:27 AM UTC · How we work

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Sexualizing Youth Claim

On October 4, 2026, candidate Steve Hilton aired “Just Try It, California” ad showing two young women under a Pride flag in California.
Republican allies, including general candidate Michael Gates and superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, condemned the ad as sexualizing youth and alienating voters.
Rep. Robert Garcia called the ad desperate, citing Hilton’s anti-LGBTQ+ record and Trump support.
Jonathan Underland said ad shows Hilton abandoning his values and becoming a sellout.

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Republican Voter Backlash

On October 4 2026, Republican candidate Steve Hilton released the “Just Try It, California” ad with two young women and a Pride flag.
A post-ad poll shows Hilton trailing Democrat Xavier Becerra by 18 points, suggesting the outreach may alienate Republican voters.
The six-figure TV and digital spot is the first aimed at Gen Z and millennial voters.
It depicts AI-generated women on a bed beneath a Pride flag discussing lesbian encounter.

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Sexualizing Youth Claim

On October 4, 2026, candidate Steve Hilton aired “Just Try It, California” ad showing two young women under a Pride flag in California.
Republican allies, including general candidate Michael Gates and superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, condemned the ad as sexualizing youth and alienating voters.
Rep. Robert Garcia called the ad desperate, citing Hilton’s anti-LGBTQ+ record and Trump support.
Jonathan Underland said ad shows Hilton abandoning his values and becoming a sellout.

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